Index or file



A. E. HUNT INDEX OR FILE Oct. 29, 1929.

- 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 27, 192

RBRRHS HCRBBO RCK m W M Ma G W Z2. 3 m 9 2 ACNE BERN AER QLICK Oct. 2 9, 1929. A. E. HUNT INDEX 0R FILE Filed July 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet HDRN RDLER HDT RBOTT gmentoz Patented Oct. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALFRED E. HUNT, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO REMINGTON RAND INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE INDEX OR FILE Application filed July 27, 1925. Serial No. 46,397.

This invention relates to indexes or files, and more particularly to that class of indexes wherein a series of index elements are arranged upon a support in such a manner that a marginal edge of each will be exposed to view. In some instances, it is desirable that these elements be detachably retained upon the support and be adapted to have additional cards or record-bearing members mounted thereon.

More specifically this invention relates to an improvement of this type of index or file, whereby the individual index elements constitute holders for a plurality of record-bearing members, which are arranged thereon in such a manner as to present to view a series of marginal edges whereon data may be placed and be readily referred to. It is desirable that such an arrangement be, to some extent, self-indexing, especially when the in dex is to be used under conditions where changes and additions are frequently required, such as in telephone, telegraph, credit lists or the like. In some instances it is desirable that the individual holders be releasably engaged by a frame or the like, so that the series of record-bearing members mounted thereon may be removed from the frame for reference purposes, without disarrangement of the series. It is also desirable, in some instances, to provide holders of theabove type which are adapted to engage a frame having holder-retaining means of such construction that the frame may be used either to hold and retain a series of such reference-member holders, or a series of individual record-bearing members without the necessity of altering, addin parts to or taking parts from the frame.

The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an index having the elements thereof of such construction and arrangement that the above desirable features and advantages will be obtained, which index or file will be inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in use.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates an index or file embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 29. of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of one of the index elements shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4.l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a front view of an index element arranged to support a series of a modified form of record-bearing members;

Fig. 7 is a front view of a somewhat different arrangement of a series of the modified form of record-bearing member;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of record-bearing member, and

Fig. 9 is a front view of a holder or index element, supporting two series of other modified forms of record bearing members.

For the purpose of illustrating the features of my invention, I have selected a series of one form of overlapping index elements, having means to engage a frame and to cause a margin of each of the elements to be exposed to view when the same are mounted in or upon said frame. The frame, in this instance, comprises a base or bottom portion 10, which may be the bottom of a drawer, the base plate of a panel or of a swingingleaf of any desired type. The means for holding the index elements 11 within or upon the frame is illustrated as comprising a strip 12 having oppositely directed flange portions 13 and 14, which are spaced from the surface of the base 10 an amount sufficient to allow the engagement therewith of oppositely and laterally directed tongue portions 15 and 16, formed with or secured to the index element 11. The elements 11 are also provided with means to cause each succeeding one of a series to overlap a predetermined amount in order to expose a margin of each to view. As illustrated, this means comprises the perpendicularly directed tongue portions 17 and 18. shown in Fig. 5, the body portion of one element 11, nests between the tongue portion 18 and the body of the next index element, which causes the overlap and exposes a margin thereof, as above noted. For a more detailed description of the nesting and. overlap feature of the particular form of index element shown in the drawings, reference is made to the patent to Irving Fisher, No. 1,048,056, dated December 24, 1912. Itshould lie understood, however, that aside from the use of this form of index element as the illustrative means upon which to base the description of my invention, the same is not limited to the particular form of element shown, but isadapted to'be incorporated in and associated with other types of overlappng index elements, which are adapted to be arranged so as to expose a margin of each of a series to view.

The index element, card, panel or sheet 11 is formed from a single piece of material suchas paper or cardboard and comprises a base portion 20 and aflap portion 2l, interconnected by a suitable hinge connection 22. The tongue portions 15 and 17, and 16 and 18, respectively, in this instance are integral and are struck out and directed rearwardly from the material forming the base portion 20. A series of elements 11, therefore, when mounted upon a holding frame 10, as above described, and before applyingthereto the record-bearing members, would present to View. the freemargin 23 of each element.

The flap portion 21 of these index elements may be adapted. by various arrangements to support and retain a series of additional members thereon, one arrangement for so doing being shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive. In these figures, the index element 21 is provided with two pairs ofspaced-apart parallel slits 24 and 25, and. 26 and 27 respectively, whereby two series of additional record-bearing members 28 maybe mounted thereon. The members 28, in this instance, are illustrated as being of the form of index elements corresponding to the above-mentioned patent, and are, therefore, provided with supportengaging and internesting means of a similar design. This means com prises the oppositely and laterally directed tongues 29,- which in this particular form, have portions 30 thereof directed perpendicu larly.- r The laterally directed tongues 29, in this instance, are formed in such a manner that they are directed toward each other and are adapted to be slipped through the slits 24 and 25 or 26 and 27, respectively, and engage one of the portion 31 of theindex element lying between the respective pairs of. slits, as shown in s- The record-bearing members 28, by such engagement; are detachably retainedupon the index element 11, and are substantially held thereon against lateral shifting or accidentalrem'oval therefrom in a forward direction, although being slidable lengthwise thereof. Each member 28 is nested between the tongue portions 30 of the overlying card and the card. body thereof, which due to the spacing of this tongue portion from an edge of the member, causes an exposed margin to be pre sented to view.

Each of the slits 24 and 25, and 26 and 27, in this instance, terminate in an opening 32 formed in the index element 11 in such a manner that an upwardly directed edge 33 is presented which supports the lowermost member of the series of record-bearingmembers 28 by being engaged by the tongue portion 30 thereof and nested between the same and the body of the card. The entire series, therefore, is detachably supported against slippage vertically, as shown in Fig. 3. In order that the upper margin of the uppermost member of the series will not tend to bend outwardly, means is provided to retain the same closely associated with'the surface of the index element 11. The means illustrated comprises diagonal slots or slits 34, which areadapte d to receive a corner portion of each of the uppermost members of the series.

From the above description, it is apparent than an index has been provided wherein a supporting frame 10 isadapted, by index element engagingv means, such as 12, or the like, to detachably engage and. support a series of index elements of a. form like 11, which in turn areadapted to engage and support a series of. record-bearing index elements 28, orthc like, which are detachably retained thereon. Each index element 11, withthe series of members 28 secured thereto, may be removed from the frame and from. the series of index elements thereon, and be replaced by an index element not provided with a series of members, suchras28, if it is so desired, and the frame 10 is'adapted to as efliciently support the same as it did the element removed. In addition to this possible operation, any one of the individual members 28 may be removed from its supporting element and replaced by another ofsimila'r design.

Additions to the series of members 28 upon any one of the index elements 11 may be made at any time by removing the lowermost member of a series, for instance, the one designated Acme and inserting the member to be added in its proper alphabetical sequence, The member Acme soremoved is placed at the top of the next series of members after removing the lower one of the same series, in this instance Aetn'a, which will be placed upon the underlying index element the lower margin of which is shown covered by the members 28, designated Ahern and Albert, respectively. By this method, the index developed by the useo'f the features. of this invention may correctly be called self-indexing, for the user at a glance at the exposed margins of the members 28 which cover the extending margins 28 of the elements 11 may readily determine at all timeswhat membersare upon any one of the elements, without II-O uncovering the same. For instance,'the't'hird element of the series shown in Fig. lcan be concluded to have record-bearing members mounted thereon in the left-hand series, all names of parties, or accounts, etc. included between the alphabet letters ALB, see righthand portion of element next above, and BAE the lowermost member at the left-hand 'margin of the third element. Likewise, the

right-hand series upon this element will be provided with all names, etc., of parties. or accounts, between the letters BAE and BEE, ending in Beebe. The insertion of a member in any series does notaffect this self-indexing as the lowermost member of each series at all times indicates the foregoing members thereof and also indicates the subsequent members of the next series. I

I Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the principles of this invention when record-bearing members of another form are used. The form of member 40 shown in detail in Fi 8, correspands to the individual units of the interlocking type of index member shown in the patent to Daniel A. Wilcox, No. 1,531,893, dated March 31, 1925. The cards aredetachably retained together by the interlocking of the tongues 41, located adjacent a margin thereof, into the slots 42, in such a manner that the cards overlap each other a predetermined amount to expose a portion thereof as at 43 to view. A plurality of members of this form is shown arranged in a series by such interlocking mounted upon index elements 44 and 45, respectively, in Figs. 6 and 7.

In Fig. 6 the series of members 40 are retained upon the element 44 by the engagement of the tongues 41 thereof with the element 44 within slits 46 provided therein. The tongues 41 are oppositely and laterally directed and are readily inserted through the slits 46. By also extending toward each other in opposed relation, the tongues 41 engage the material of the index element'44 lying between the slits 46 and resist accidental removal and lateral shifting of the member upon the index element.

In Fig. 7 the portion 47 of the member 40, which lies between one marginal edge and a slit or slot 42 at both the side edges thereof is used as the engaging means whereby the member is retained upon the index element Slits 48 are provided in the element into which. the laterally and oppositely directed tongues or side edge portions 47 are inserted. These tongues or portions extend laterally away from each other and, therefore, en age the material composing the element- 45, lying between the slit 4S and the side edge thereof.

The self-indexing feature above noted, regarding the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, is present in the arrangements and forms shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and the general features of operation of the entire index are also present. Each element 44 or 45 is detachably engageable with a frame by means of tongues 15 and 16, and the members 40 are detachable from the respective elements and capable of rearrangement thereon without I destroying the sequence thereof.

Two other slightly modified forms of record-bearing members are shown in Fig. 9, for convenience, both forms being illustrated mounted upon the same index element. The index element 50 of this figure is provided with slits 51 arranged in a somewhat similar manner as those of the element 11, previously described. The members 52 and 53, respectively, are provided with somewhat similar tongues 54 and which have portions thereof analogous to the portions of the tongues of the member 28.

The tongues 54 provided in the members 52, shown in the left hand series, are formed from the material of the member and are the means whereby the members are retained upon the element 50. Each of these tongues has a laterally directed portion, which portions extend in opposite directions relatively to each other so that when they are inserted through the respective slits each will engage the index element upon a surface of the material composing the same, which lies between the slit and the side edge thereof.

The tongues 55 of the members 58 are similar to the above in respect to the engagement with the index element, but are formed to present one tongue for each member, this tongue having oppositely directed portions 57 and 58 thereon, which extend laterally away from each other. Instead of the corner slits 34 being provided to retain the uppermost card closely associated with the index element, ears 59, one for each such card, are shown in this figure as the means for such use. The cars 59 are preferably struck up from the material forming the index element and engage over the center of the top edge of the members 52 and 53, as illustrated.

IVhile I have illustrated and described some preferred forms of devices embodying my invention, I do not limitmyself to' the exact details shown, as many modifications and variations thereof are possible which will lie within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim is:

1. In an index or tile, a supporting frame having a series of overlapping index elements dctachably mounted thereon with a margin of each exposed to view, one of said elements having a plurality of series of record-bearing members detachably mounted thereon, the lowermost member of each series extending over the exposed margin of said element and adapted to bear insignia indicating the record matter upon the remainder of said members in the series.

2. In an index or file, a supporting frame h-aving'a series of overlapping index elements detachably" mounted thereon with a margin ofeach exposed to View, one of said elements having a plurality of series of overlapping and interlocking record-bearing members detachably mounted thereon, the lowermost member of one of the series extending over the exposed margin of said element and adapted to bear insignia indicating the record matter upon the remainder of said members.

3. In an index or file, a supporting frame having a series of overlapping index elements detachably mounted thereon with a margin of each exposed to View, each of said elements having a plurality of series of overlapping and interlocking record-bearing members detach-ably mounted thereon, the lowermost member of one series extending over the exposed margin of each of said elements and adapted to bear insignia indicating the record matter upon the remainder of the members upon each element, and those of an adjacent element.

4. In an index or file, a supporting frame having a series of overlapping index elements mounted thereon with a margin of each exposed to view, one of said elements having a series of record-bearing members mounted thereon, in overlapped relation whereby a margin of each extends beyond the body of another, the lowermost member of said series overlying the exposed margin of said element and adapted to bear insignia indicating the record matter upon the remainder of said members.

5. In an index or file, a series of index elements adapted to be supported in overlapping relation with a marginal portion of each exposed in visible index relation, a series of record-bearing members detachably mounted on each index element, said index element having means for supporting the record-bearing member at one end of said series with a free marginal edge in substantially coincident relation with the exposed marginal edge of said element.

6. In an index or file, an index element having means on one marginal portion for engaging a support and the opposite marginal portion free, a series of interengaged record-bearing members detachably connected to said clement, said element having means for cooperation with the record-bearing memher at one end of the series to support said member with a marginal portion overlying the free marginal portion of said element with the edges substantially coincident.

7. In an index or file, an index element having means on one marginal portion for engaging a support and an opposite free marginal portion, a series of interengaged recordbearing members having means slidably and detachably engaging said element, means on said element cooperating with the record bearing member at one end of the series to retain said member with: a marginal portion overlying said: free marginal portion of said element, and means-on said element adjacent the first-mentioned marginal port-ion forengaging the edge of said record member at the opposite" end of the series to retain said members against sliding movement thereon.

8. In an index or file, an index element having means on one marginal portion for engaging a support and an opposite freemarginal portion, saidelement having slots terminating in openings spaced from said free marginal portion and in parallel relation thereto at their nearest edges, and a recordbearing member havin means on one marginal portion detachably' engaged in said openings, and having the opposite marginal portion overlying the free marginal portion of said element, the edges of the free marginal portions of said element and member being substantially coincident.

9. In an index or file having a plurality of index elements arranged in overlapping relation, to expose a free marginal portion of each, each index element comprising a sheet provided with means at the opposite marginal portion for attachment to a support to mount said elements in ofiset overlapping relation thereon, said sheet having a pair of parallel slots extending substantially at right-angles to said free marginal portion, and shoulders at the ends of said slots parallel to the edge of said free marginal portion, and a plurality of record-bearing members having a marginal portion of each formed with inwardly projecting tongues and shoulders adjacent said tongues, each of said members engaging between the tongues and body of an adjacent member in nested overlapping relation, said tongues engaging through the slots in said index element and securing said members thereto, one of said members having the shoulders thereon engaged with the shoulders on said element to support said member with its free marginal edge terminating substantially coincident with the free marginal edge of said index element.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of July, 1925. H

ALFRED E. HUNT. 

